fimple, unbalanced governments bad; fimple monarchy, fimple ariftocracy, fimple democracy; he held them all imperfect or vicious: all were bad by themselves: the compofition alone was good. That these had been always his principles, in which he had agreed with his friend Mr. Burke, of whom he said many kind and flattering things, which Mr. Burke, I take it for granted, will know himself too well to think he merits, from any thing but Mr. Fox's acknowledged good-nature. Mr. Fox thought, however, that, in many cafes, Mr. Burke was rather carried too far by his hatred to innovation..

Mr. Burke faid, he well knew that thefe had been Mr. Fox's invariable opinions; that they were a fure ground for the confidence of his country. But he had been fearful, that cabals of very different intentions, would be ready to make use of his great name, against his character and fentiments, in order to derive a credit to their deftructive machinations.

Mr. Sheridan then rofe, and made a lively and eloquent fpeech againft Mr. Burke; in which, among other things, he faid that Mr. Burke had libelled the national affembly of France, and had caft out reflections on fuch characters as thofe of the Marquis de la Fayette and Mr. Bailly.

Mr. Burke faid, that he did not libel the national affembly of France, whom he confidered very

little in the difcuffion of these matters. That he thought all the fubftantial power refided in the republick of Paris, whose authority guided, or whofe example was followed by, all the republicks of France. The republick of Paris had an army under their orders, and not under those of the na tional affembly.

N. B. As to the particular gentlemen, I do not remember that Mr. Burke mentioned either of them-certainly not Mr. Bailly. He alluded, undoubtedly, to the cafe of the Marquis de la Fayette; but whether what he afferted of him be a libel on him, must be left to those who are acquainted with the business.

Mr. Pitt concluded the debate with becoming gravity and dignity, and a referve on both fides of the question, as related to France, fit for a perfon in a ministerial fituation. He said, that what he had spoken only regarded France when the should unite, which he rather thought the foon might, with the liberty she had acquired, the bleffings of law and order. He, too, faid feveral civil things concerning the fentiments of Mr. Burke, as applied to this country.

MR

MR. BURKE's

REFLECTIONS

ON THE

REVOLUTION IN FRANCE,

AND ON THE

PROCEEDINGS IN CERTAIN SOCIETIES

IN LONDON,

RELATIVE TO THAT EVENT.

IN

A LETTER

INTENDED TO HAVE BEEN SENT TO A GENTLEMAN

IN PARIS.

1790.

1

An an

I T may not be unneceffary to inform the Reader, that the following Reflections had their origin in a correfpondence between the Author and a very young gentleman at Paris, who did him the honour of defiring his opinion upon the important tranfactions, which then, and ever fince, have so much occupied the attention of all men. fwer was written fome time in the month of October 1789; but it was kept back upon prudential confiderations. That letter is alluded to in the beginning of the following fheets. It has been fince forwarded to the person to whom it was addreffed. The reafons for the delay in fending it were affigned in a short letter to the fame gentleman. This produced on his part a new and presfing application for the Author's fentiments.

The Author began a second and more full difcuffion on the subject. This he had fome thoughts of publishing early in the laft fpring; but the matter gaining upon him, he found that what he had undertaken not only far exceeded the measure of a letter, but that its importance required rather a more detailed confideration than at that time he had any leisure to bestow upon it. However, having thrown down his first thoughts in the form

of